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Grant will help feed the 800,000 people that turn to the Greater Chicago Food Depository for food each year

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Nearly 800 local General Electric (NYS: GE) employees are volunteering their time to take on some of today's toughest challenges − hunger and the environment, along with supporting education and developmentally disabled athletes − during the 11th Annual GE Community Day across the Chicagoland area.

During this single day of caring, GE volunteers will:

Clean up litter and help with vegetation and habitat management at Busse Woods;

Repair, paint, and clean, as well as mentor students at Catalyst School;

Support thousands of athletes at the Special Olympics' Spring Games; and

Paint and fix Aunt Martha's Youth Service Center and Health Center.

To address the unprecedented demand at local area food pantries, GE also awarded $75,000 to the Greater Chicago Food Depository. This donation builds on the 11,000 volunteer hours our employees donate to the Chicago area each year, and the $2 million in GE grants to local nonprofits over the past two years.

"I applaud and commend GE and its employees for their generous contribution to the Greater Chicago Food Depository, as well as various nonprofit organizations in the Chicagoland area," said Secretary of State Jesse White. "GE sets a strong example for other organizations by giving back to the community and improving the quality of life for others."

Since 2011, GE has added 500 jobs in the city and moved GE Transportation global headquarters to Chicago. Earlier this week, the Company also opened its new Monogram® Design Center at LuxeHome in the Merchandise Mart.

"We are committed to the city of Chicago, building our local workforce and strengthening the communities where our 4,300 GE employees across the state live and work," said Lorenzo Simonelli, President and CEO of GE Transportation. "Through this volunteer event and others like it, we hope to make an impact in the community and serve tens of thousands of people in need."

About GE

GE (NYS: GE) works on things that matter. The best people and the best technologies taking on the toughest challenges. Finding solutions in energy, health and home, transportation and finance. Building, powering, moving and curing the world. Not just imagining. Doing. GE works. For more information, visit the company's website at www.ge.com.

To follow local Chicago news on the Company, follow GE on Twitter at @GEChicago. For news and updates on GE Community Day, follow #GECD13 on Twitter.